Clause 6 Safeguards

ASSAM MOVEMENT

The Assam Movement (1979–1985) emerged from fears of demographic change, cultural dilution, and political marginalisation due to migration from Bangladesh. It culminated in the Assam Accord of 1985, which fixed 24 March 1971 as the cut-off date for identifying illegal migrants and promised safeguards for Assamese identity under Clause 6. However, challenges such as documentation gaps, political sensitivities, and lack of consensus on defining “Assamese” have hindered implementation, making the Accord an unfinished agenda that continues to shape Assam’s identity politics and citizenship debates.